Sums it up

And these guys are the optimists! These are gross production estimates -- not accounting for increased domestic usage by exporters or the increased energy cost of extracting the tougher-to-get oil. Image via Wikipedia

Jeffrey (Westexas) Brown notes (at about 1:30 p.m. in today's Drumbeat comments):

Peak Oil is like a commercial airliner doing a gradual descent for landing. Peak Exports is more akin to an airliner doing a near vertical dive into the ground.

Meanwhile, let's talk about the new third auto bridge for Salem!

A try to get Congress to set priorities for transportation

The ODOT building: Where billions are committed to making it impossible to get around without a car. Image by OregonDOT via Flickr

Hi-

As you read this, Congress is working on the new transportation bill, released just two days ago. It's a good start, but as the bill stands today, it leaves out something crucial: Clear national priorities.

There’s no way to be sure billions of dollars in transportation spending will deliver clean, safe and smart transportation without accountability measures built-in.

I just called my member of Congress about the need for real reform. Can you call too?

1. Call the Congressional Switchboard at 202-224-3121 and ask to speak to your representative’s office.
   
   
2. Tell the staff member answering the phone where you're calling from, and that you'd like to urge the representative to support the National Transportation Objectives Act of 2009 (H.R. 2724). You can add:
   
   
   • You are a constituent and a supporter of the Transportation for America coalition.
     
     
   • You want to make sure the billions spent on transportation help us cut down on emissions, give us real energy security, and provide you with more affordable options for getting from A to B.

Tell Congress that we need reform first, money later.